12-31-2009, 10:59 AM
<!--quoteo(post=73504:date=Dec 31 2009, 08:31 AM:name=Runnys)-->QUOTE (Runnys @ Dec 31 2009, 08:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Scarey...I do not have time to look and I know that you are really knowledgeable regarding the Cubs current minor league system. So my question is this....who are the top OF prospects in the system right now? I know there is Colvin and Burke, but beyond that who else is there?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
James Adduci could be a decent player. He gets on base pretty well and I believe can play all three outfield positions although I haven't heard much about how well he plays defense. He looks like a less effective Sam Fuld so he could maybe be a 4th or 5th outfielder at the major league level.
Brandon Guyer is a guy I'm really high on. Scouts rave about his defense in center field, he has decent plate discipline, and he's shown power potential. However, he's going to be 24 next year. Last year he started in AA and struggled so was demoted to A+ and dominated. He's going to have to go back to AA this year and put up some sick numbers to get a shot at making the bigs before Brett Jackson.
The guy we just acquired from the A's Matt Spencer actually would be on this list. He's known as a 1B/OF actually. He's a lefty and has put up fairly pedestrian numbers especially in the Florida State League which is supposed to be a hitters league. John Sickels just came out with his list of top 20 Cubs prospects and put him at #16.
There's a couple of the Korean guys that figure into the outfield. Most prominant is Dong-Yub Kim. He doesn't have any recorded stats because he only played in the rookie league last year, but he supposedly has corner outfielder power. He did struggle at rookie league however. Jae-hoon Ha has some potential too that he hasn't tapped into yet. However, the Cubs have been trying him out at catcher and it looks like they may keep him there. I think the most intriguing guy of the Asian imports is Kyung-min Na. He's a centerfielder the Cubs just signed to a big bonus. He has blazing speed, a great glove, and good contact ability. He only played in rookie ball as well. It will be interesting to see what they do this upcoming year.
Then there's some of the infielders that may switch to the outfield. They haven't tried either of them there yet, but I've heard that Junior Lake or Hak-Ju Lee could be centerfielders in the future. I understand that Lake's numbers don't impress because he is compared with Starlin Castro all the time. They play the same position and are the same age. But, Lake still has projectability and while he hasn't exactly been successful at the lower levels, he's holding his own. The other guy that could switch to centerfield is Logan Watkins. He actually has the ability to play at shortstop, but there's so many good players at the position that the Cubs have been trying him out at 2nd and CF. I think he of any of the three would be most likely to switch to centerfield.
Nelson Perez is a guy that has power potential as well. He struggled at Peoria last year and I would have probably left him off the list. But, he did very well at the Dominican Winter League. If he does well at A+ next year he will show up on people's radars.
If I were to give you a short list of guys to keep an eye on, it would probably be:
1. Brett Jackson
2. Kyler Burke
3. Brandon Guyer
4. Logan Watkins
5. Kyung-Min Na
I think these are the guys with the highest ceilings. What's interesting is all of these guys project as centerfielders. It's a big reason why I'm very pleased with what the Cubs have done with their minor league system. They have really emphasized building up the middle. They're very deep at both middle infield spots and centerfield. They aren't too increidbly strong at catcher, but they have some interesting players on the way.
James Adduci could be a decent player. He gets on base pretty well and I believe can play all three outfield positions although I haven't heard much about how well he plays defense. He looks like a less effective Sam Fuld so he could maybe be a 4th or 5th outfielder at the major league level.
Brandon Guyer is a guy I'm really high on. Scouts rave about his defense in center field, he has decent plate discipline, and he's shown power potential. However, he's going to be 24 next year. Last year he started in AA and struggled so was demoted to A+ and dominated. He's going to have to go back to AA this year and put up some sick numbers to get a shot at making the bigs before Brett Jackson.
The guy we just acquired from the A's Matt Spencer actually would be on this list. He's known as a 1B/OF actually. He's a lefty and has put up fairly pedestrian numbers especially in the Florida State League which is supposed to be a hitters league. John Sickels just came out with his list of top 20 Cubs prospects and put him at #16.
There's a couple of the Korean guys that figure into the outfield. Most prominant is Dong-Yub Kim. He doesn't have any recorded stats because he only played in the rookie league last year, but he supposedly has corner outfielder power. He did struggle at rookie league however. Jae-hoon Ha has some potential too that he hasn't tapped into yet. However, the Cubs have been trying him out at catcher and it looks like they may keep him there. I think the most intriguing guy of the Asian imports is Kyung-min Na. He's a centerfielder the Cubs just signed to a big bonus. He has blazing speed, a great glove, and good contact ability. He only played in rookie ball as well. It will be interesting to see what they do this upcoming year.
Then there's some of the infielders that may switch to the outfield. They haven't tried either of them there yet, but I've heard that Junior Lake or Hak-Ju Lee could be centerfielders in the future. I understand that Lake's numbers don't impress because he is compared with Starlin Castro all the time. They play the same position and are the same age. But, Lake still has projectability and while he hasn't exactly been successful at the lower levels, he's holding his own. The other guy that could switch to centerfield is Logan Watkins. He actually has the ability to play at shortstop, but there's so many good players at the position that the Cubs have been trying him out at 2nd and CF. I think he of any of the three would be most likely to switch to centerfield.
Nelson Perez is a guy that has power potential as well. He struggled at Peoria last year and I would have probably left him off the list. But, he did very well at the Dominican Winter League. If he does well at A+ next year he will show up on people's radars.
If I were to give you a short list of guys to keep an eye on, it would probably be:
1. Brett Jackson
2. Kyler Burke
3. Brandon Guyer
4. Logan Watkins
5. Kyung-Min Na
I think these are the guys with the highest ceilings. What's interesting is all of these guys project as centerfielders. It's a big reason why I'm very pleased with what the Cubs have done with their minor league system. They have really emphasized building up the middle. They're very deep at both middle infield spots and centerfield. They aren't too increidbly strong at catcher, but they have some interesting players on the way.